Nothing like a good, attention-grabbing blurb . . . excited/exciting words . . . a wooing pitch.
I’ve touched upon writing both blurbs and pitches in past, but given the last edit for “Forever Poi” is [finally] almost completed, it’s time to write a winning blurb.
Before I share mine, let’s not forget that a [selling/successful] blurb is what convinces someone to buy your book. Simply put, it’s a sales pitch—yours.
Here are some things to consider re writing one.
Now, just for the record, there are a couple of types—the one you use for the back cover of your magnum opus and the one you use as a review. Given I’m writing the former, let’s stick to that.
If you’ve never written one, Google some. Get a feel for what works . . . and what doesn’t. Review how they’re written and arranged. Take notice of that first sentence; it should be dynamic and have us wanting to read more. Consider the words that pull you in. Note the voice, too; it should sound similar to the book.
Blurbs generally have a formula: they offer a situation or event, provide an issue or dilemma, and guarantee a surprise or shock. Introduce main character(s) so readers have someone to relate to. Provide a hint of setting (place and time). Don’t reveal all, though—ensure you leave folks hanging, so they’ll yearn to know what happens! Above all, keep it short and sweet in length and sentence structure.
Rewrite that blurb a few different ways. Determine which one(s) works best, and hang on to them all.
After you’ve written one or five or ten, like your book, leave those blurb(s) for a few days so that you can review (and edit) with new eyes. Don’t be afraid to ask friends, family, and followers for input.
One last note: if you have a writing background and have received awards and/or good reviews, you may want to add this information, but only if it relates to your book. And if you do, again, make sure to keep it—yup—short and sweet.
Here’s the initial draft of the blurb for “Forever Poi” (feel free to offer input) . . .
The ever-proud owners of the Triple Threat Investigation Agency JJ, Rey and Linda, have stumbled through three major cases with stellar results. Now, the not-so-novice private eyes have a double-arson case to solve: who set ablaze two happening Chinatown art galleries, leaving a couple of charcoal-broiled corpses in the rubble? Any number of persons in the local art world could be responsible. A cast of curious suspects include a haughty gallery owner with a questionable past, an art consultant as treacherous as she is beautiful, a risk-fond photographer who lives on the edge, and an aspiring manager with a dicey history. If the gals can determine the reason, they might just catch the culprit. A major insurance pay-out? An ugly relationship break-up? Pure vengeance? Or a cover-up for past transgressions? Whoever claimed the insurance and art worlds were uneventful or mundane? Certainly not our sleuthing trio.
The Writer's Grab-Bag 
i think the blurb is interesting and catchy, though i dare say it’d sound better if you took off the last question and stopped at transgression. It’s only my opinion though.
i was awful writing the blurb to my novel and i had several written beore i began narrowing it down. at the end i couldn’t decide between two so i posted both on my blog. and ta da, i got a third blurb that readers helped with.
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